PARTS OF A WEB PAGE AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2024

The parts of a web page are divided into the front elements and the back-end elements. These parts interact with each other, as a system to create an optimal space for users.

The front elements are those that can be seen, such as the main page (or homepage), the logo of the page, the content, the search bar, the images, the advertising, and any other element that is part of the design of the website.

On the other hand, the rear elements are those that cannot be seen, since they are part of the page's programming. Some of these are the coding system (which allows programmers to edit the page and update it), the search system (which materializes in the search bar), the image rotation system, the buy-sell system, chats, online databases, among others.

Not all web pages have the same parts. For example, the buying and selling system is only present on commercial platforms, such as Amazon or E-Bay.

Main and common parts on web pages

- Front elements

Navigation structure

The navigation structure is the basis of the website. That is, it is made up of all the links that support the site: the links that redirect to the main page, the menu links, the articles (if there are any), among others.

Homepage

The main page (also known as the homepage) is the base interface of the website. This contains the most important headings and other information, such as contact information.

Logo

The logo is the symbol that identifies the page. It's usually in the upper left corner.

Many websites create a link between the logo and the main page, so that it is redirected to the main page if the logo is clicked.

Content

The content is the information present on the website. For example, if it is a news site, then the reports will be the content.

Good web pages distribute content into information segments (with titles and subtitles). In this way, the user can read more easily.

Headers

Headings are the titles of the articles that are part of the page. These are accompanied by a paragraph of two or three lines. This is a summary that seeks to attract the attention of users.

Menu

The menu is a bar that makes the website easy to navigate. Divide the page into sections. For example, if it is an informative blog, you can find sections for each area of ​​knowledge: science, humanities, technology, among others.

Advertising

Some web pages include banner ads in order to earn funds to support responsible website workers. These can be of two types: static or animated.

Static ads are images, text, or a combination of both. Animated ones can be gif images, videos, pop-ups (advertising that appears as a pop-up ad), among others.

Static ads are often preferred because they don't oversaturate the page and are more enjoyable for site users.

Search bar

The search bar is a space that allows you to navigate the web page through keywords. It is usually identified with a magnifying glass.

Multimedia elements

Many pages include multimedia elements that make the user experience more interactive. You can include images, videos, audios, games, among others.

Footer

The footers on the websites contain information on the regulations, conditions and terms of use. In this part you can also find the period in which the page has been operational.

- Back elements or «back-end»

Coding system

The coding system allows updating the page, correcting errors in the structure, uploading content, images, videos and advertising. It also allows you to keep the website links active and repair those that have been broken.

Search system

The search system is the platform behind the search bar. This relates all the content of the web page through keywords, making navigation faster.

Image rotation system

Some pages automatically change images. This is done through a rotation system that encodes the images so that they alternate from time to time.

Buy-sell system

Commercial web pages are based on a buying and selling system. This system allows to process transactions with debit and credit cards, all this backed by a security system that protects the buyer's data.

Registration system

In order to maximize the user experience, many sites create registration systems. Sometimes a small sum of money is asked for the membership and in return, greater benefits are offered.

Download files

Certain files present on the page can be downloaded if the programmers allow it. They can be archived from images, to documents, audios and videos.

Online databases

Online databases allow information to be stored in the cloud. In this way, if the user cannot or does not want to download the file, it will be stored on the page and will be available as long as the page is active.

Chats

Chats are spaces in which users can interact with each other. There are pages dedicated exclusively to this purpose (social networks, such as Facebook and Twitter). Other pages present chats so that users can comment on the quality of the site (such as blogs and buy-sell pages).

Security

The web pages store important information about the users: names, identification number, telephone numbers, credit cards, among others. Therefore, a security system is necessary to keep this data safe.

Domain

The domain is the address of the page. Through this, anyone can access the website.

References

1. Components of a Website. Retrieved on September 19, 2017, from stratecomm.com
2. Parts of a Web Page. Retrieved on September 19, 2017, from thoughtco.com
3. Page Structure and Site Design. Retrieved on September 19, 2017, from webstyleguide.com
4. Elements of a web page. Retrieved on September 19, 2017, from tech-ict.com
5. Websites and parts of websites. Retrieved on September 19, 2017, from macmillandictionary.com
6. 5 Parts of a Website and their Design Trends this 2015. Retrieved on September 19, 2017, from sumofy.me
7. Anatomy of a Web Page. Retrieved on September 19, 2017, from htmlbasictutor.ca